Pasta

Happy New Year everyone! I just returned from a holiday cruise and had an amazing time with my family and friends. Unfortunately, I came home with a cold and was looking for some comfort food. I decided to make a “creamy” and delicious Fettuccine Alfredo. In the US, many people use cream in their recipe when in realty, this dish has only three main ingredients: fettuccine, butter and Parmigiano Reggiano cheese.

Before I share the recipe, I want to tell you the story behind this dish. The original recipe was created by Alfredo Di Lelio in his restaurant in Rome. His wife was pregnant and had lost her appetite. He invented this dish for her by simply adding Parmigiano Reggiano cheese to an everyday Italian dish called Fettuccine al burro ( with butter). She could not get enough of it. Fettuccine Alfredo became very popular in the Italian-American community but many people use cream which is not in the original recipe. If you mix all the ingredients properly, it will create a creaminess without the use of cream. Grab your apron and follow me in the kitchen!

Ingredients:

1 pound dry Fettuccine pasta

1 handful of salt for pasta water

8 ounces salted butter

1/2 pound (24-month aged) Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, grated

1/4 cup reserved pasta water

Preparation:

1. In a large pot, over medium-high heat, bring pasta water to a boil. Add salt. Cook Fettuccine al dente (about 12 minutes)
2. In the meantime, in a large skillet over medium heat, heat up the butter.
3. The pasta should be cooked by now. Reserve some pasta water before draining it.
4. Drop pasta in the melted butter, add cheese and reserved water.
5. Use a set of thongs to mix all the ingredients thoroughly until every strand of fettuccine is coated. Serve at once with a salad or a vegetable of your choice.Gina’s note: Even though I used salted butter, this dish was perfectly balanced and not salty. If you follow my instructions carefully, you will obtain great results.

Wine pairing suggestions:
I recommend either one of the three V’s: Vermentino, Vernaccia, or Verdicchio. They are all Italian white wines and would pair nicely with the richness of the pasta.

Buon Appetito!

In June of 2019, I had the opportunity to visit a Parmigiano Reggiano factory in Parma, Italy. Photos are my intellectual property. All Rights Reserved.

Parmigiano Reggiano Heaven

Parmigiano Reggiano Cheese

Soul-Warming Fettuccine Alfredo

I hope you will try this delicious recipe for yourself or your loved ones and share your experience with me.

Pasta alla Norma originated in Sicily and is perfect for a small gathering. It is believed to be named after the famous opera called Norma. It’s easy and made with a few ingredients including my favorite veggie: eggplant! In this recipe, I am using whole canned tomatoes but you can use fresh tomatoes if they are in season. This is a great meal for vegetarians depending on their diet lifestyles (with or without the cheese). I served a salad with the pasta and my family ate to their heart’s content. Put on your apron and follow me in the kitchen.

1. In a medium-sized saucepan, on medium-high heat, heat up oil, sauté the garlic, 1-2 minutes, add the eggplant, cook while stirring for 5-7 minutes. Adjust the heat as necessary. Add the tomatoes, salt, basil. Lower the heat and simmer for 15-20 minutes covered with lid tilted. Stir occasionally. If the sauce is too thick, add water toward the end. (before draining the pasta). Turn the burner off.

2. While the sauce is cooking, bring pasta water to a boil. Add salt and cook al dente. You will be doing a little juggling.

3. Add drained pasta to the sauce and mix well. Serve in a large pasta bowl. Garnish with the cheese and basil.

I paired this meal with a lovely aged Barbera D’Alba from Ca’ Viola winery and it worked magically.

Other wine pairing suggestions: Nero d’Avola, a red grape variety from Sicily or any medium-bodied red wine of your choice.

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If you are looking for some comfort food that is rich and satisfying, I’ve got this delicious pasta recipe that will make you smile from ear to ear. Penne alla Vodka is not a traditional dish and its origin is unknown. It’s popular in the Italian-American community, however, because of its richness, it is not part of my weekly repertoire. You can serve it with a protein and a veggie of your choice. I used some guanciale that I brought back with me from Italy. This pork fat is not available in most grocery stores in the USA (unless, you go to a specialty store) and it’s perfectly ok to substitute it with pancetta. Let’s get cooking! Put on your apron, and follow me in the kitchen.

Serves: 6-8 Difficulty level: Easy to intermediate
Allow about 1 hour of prepping and cooking time

Ingredients:

2 tbsp. olive oil

1/2 lb. guanciale or pancetta

1 medium onion, chopped

4 garlic cloves, chopped

1 cup Vodka

1 – 28 oz. can crushed tomatoes

1 – 32 oz. jar, prepared sauce (meatless)

salt & pepper to taste

1 cup heavy cream

Italian parsley, rough-chopped

1.5 lb. penne pasta

Parmigiano Reggiano, (Parmesan cheese)Preparation:

1) In a large skillet, heat the olive oil on medium-high heat, sauté the guanciale for 2-3 minutes, add the onions, cook for 2-3 minutes, then the garlic, 1-2 minutes. Deglaze with the Vodka. Cook for about 2 minutes.
2) Add crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, salt & pepper. Bring to a boil, lower the flame, simmer for about 30-45 minutes. Stir occasionally.
3) In the meanwhile, bring pasta water to a boil, add salt and cook penne al dente or as per package directions. Drain well. Return to the pot. Drizzle some of the sauce on the pasta so it doesn’t clump up.
4) At this time, the sauce should be almost done, slowly pour the cream into the tomato sauce, and gently stir it in one direction. Let it simmer on low for 5 minutes.
5) Use a ladle to pour the sauce over the pasta. Mix it well until each pasta is drenched in the sauce. Serve it in a large decorative bowl. Sprinkle the cheese on top and garnish with parsley.

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There are many explanations that describe the origin of this dish. Puttanesca (literally means whore’s style spaghetti) is believed to have originated in the Campania region of Italy. In 2007, when we visited the ruins of Pompeii in Naples, our tour guide Marco from Perillo Tours explained to us the story behind the name of this dish. According to him, the ladies of the evening made it to lure the men into their house by attracting them with the aroma of the sauce. Other sources claim the ladies made it because it was easy and quick as they were always busy and had little time for cooking. Whatever the story, Puttanesca is a delicious and lively sauce that you can whip in no time. It’s best served over spaghetti. It is tasty but on the salty side.

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As you know by now, I love eating pasta. It is definitely my favorite starch and one of the most versatile food to prepare. For us South Floridian, it feels like summer already but for most of you, it’s still springtime. The flowers are blooming, and some veggies are in season. It’s Pasta Primavera time, a simple pasta dish made with fresh vegetables in a cream sauce. It’s easy and delicious. You can use any pasta shape of your choice, but today I am using a small farfalle. They’re commonly known as bow-tie, and the meaning stands for butterfly in Italian.

Serves: 6-8 as a main meal Level of difficulty: Easy – It takes about 20 minutes from start to finish depending how fast you prep your ingredients.

1) In a large frying pan, on medium-high heat, heat up olive oil. Sautee onions for 2-3 minutes, add the garlic, and sautee until you smell the beautiful aroma. Set aside.

2) Bring the pasta water to a boil. Add a handful of salt, and cook pasta according to package directions. About 5 minutes or so before the time is up, add the asparagus and cook in the same pot to save time. Before draining, reserve 1/2 cup or so of pasta water.

3) Turn the burner back on with the onions and garlic on low, drop the pasta, season with Italian seasoning and black pepper. Add the tomatoes and asparagus. Slowly incorporate the ricotta, pasta water and basil. Stir well to combine all the ingredients. Garnish with some veggies on top to make it enticing. Drizzle with olive oil. Voila! It’s that easy!

Wine pairing suggestions: Verdicchio , Gavi or a Sauvignon Blanc will work beautifully with this spring dish.

Cook’s Tips

You can use a variety of vegetables such as zucchini, green or red bell peppers. The choice is endless. For a more flavorful version, roast the veggies in the oven, however, keep in mind, this recipe is meant to save you time. Put your own twist on it, and make it your signature dish.

A recipe is to be used as a barometer, if you are on a salt-restricted or low-fat diet, cut back on the salt and use a part-skim ricotta cheese.

Happy Cooking from My Kitchen to Yours,

Recipe by Foodiewinelover
Photo by Gina Martino Zarcadoolas for Foodiewinelover

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There’s nothing like having a no-fail recipe in your repertoire, because you know you can always count on the result being the same. However, having been in the kitchen for so long, I like to challenge myself, play around, and experiment to change things up a little. This is a spin-off to a dish that I made called Scrumptious Seafood Pasta Dish. The method is very similar, but I added some roasted red bell peppers. The result was equally as delicious. Follow me in My Kitchen!

1) Wash peppers, and broil them whole, on high for about 10-15 minutes depending how close they are to the burner. Turn them occasionally, using a mitten. Once they are charred all around, remove them from the oven. Place them in a brown paper bag and close it. Let it sit in there for about 15 minutes. This step will make it easier to remove the skin. It should peel off easily. If not, use a knife to remove the skin. Set aside.

2) On Medium-high heat, drizzle the olive oil on the bottom of a 6-quart pan. Sautee the garlic, as soon as it releases its aroma, drop the scallops and deglaze with the wine. This should take a couple of minutes.

3) Add the tomatoes, bell peppers, clam juice and season with salt, pepper, oregano. Slowly add the heavy cream and stir. Lower the heat and bring to a quick simmer. This does not take long as you do NOT want to overcook the scallops. They will become chewy. Remove from burner.

4) Simultaneously, bring water to a boil for the pasta and cook according to package directions. I like to cook it al dente, (to the bite). Once pasta is cooked, drain it, and reserve 1/4 cup of the water. Drop pasta into the scallop sauce, and add pasta water if necessary. Put the pan back on the burner, swirl in the butter for some added richness, and give it a good stir. This is all done at very low heat to warm it up. Garnish with the basil at the end so they don’t wilt. Now, it’s time to plate. Sprinkle with cheese and voilà, the result is a lip smacking delicious pasta dish.

I hope you will try this delectable recipe that will have your loved ones begging for seconds. Have a fantastic new week!

Wine pairing suggestions: Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc. For a special occasion, pair this dish with a nice Viognier, and you will wow your guests.

Scrumptious Seafood Pasta Dish #2

Scrumptious Seafood Pasta Dish

*Cook’s tips:

1) You can grill, roast or broil the peppers. The broiler was the most convenient for me.

2) You probably won’t need the pasta water in this version. There should be plenty of sauce to coat the linguine. Use your judgment.

3) As you can see, I didn’t use all the seafood that I used in the original dish. You are more than welcome to use them, if you want.

There are literally a thousand ways to make pasta, and I love to create dishes using different pasta shapes. Sometimes, I plan ahead, but there are other times, I try to use whatever I have in the fridge and in the pantry. It’s a bit challenging but it can be fun. I also get inspired while I am shopping, and I see the different ingredients. I start visualizing how I can combine them together in a dish. Today’s recipe is a perfect example of that. I grabbed the ingredients at the grocery store and put them together very quickly. I fed my family, and everyone was smiling while savoring the pasta. Aglio e Olio in Italian means garlic and oil, and traditionally used with spaghetti. I developed this dish, and take full credit for the recipe and the method of cooking.

Serves: 6-8 Level of difficulty: Easy – Medium

Time: from start to finish 35 minutes (fast-paced) allow yourself 45 minutes in total. You will be juggling but you can do it, I promise you. You will have the oven and two burners going at one point. Just pay attention, and do not use your cell phone. (LOL)

Ingredients:

1 – 16 oz pasta Gigi Flowers, (Flora’s Brand) *

1 pint of cherry tomatoes

1/2 lb of pancetta, chopped *

1/3 cup of garlic, chopped

3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil, plus more to drizzle

sea salt and pepper to taste (pepper is optional)

Pinch of crushed red pepper

1 head of broccoli rabe, rough chopped

1/4 cup pasta water (reserve)

1/2 -3/4 Grana Padano cheese for grating *Preparation:

1) Place tomatoes on a tray, season with salt and pepper, drizzle with olive oil. Bake in a pre-heated 425 degree F. oven for 30 -35 minutes. Give them one good stir, at the half-way point.

2) In the meanwhile, bring the salted pasta water to a boil.

3) On another burner, in a very large skillet, over medium-high heat, heat 3 tbsp. olive oil, sautee the pancetta for 2 minutes, add the garlic. Once you smell the aroma, set this pan aside. (away from the burner)

4) The pasta should be in the boiling water by now. 5-7 minutes prior to pasta being done, drop the broccoli rabe in there to avoid using another pot. Check for doneness, and drain the pasta and broccoli rabe. Be sure to reserve some pasta water.

5) Place the large skillet with pancetta and garlic back on the burner on very low flame, drop the rest of the olive oil, the pasta, 1/4 cup pasta water, broccoli rabe, roasted tomatoes, grated cheese. Sprinkle with crushed red pepper. Season with more salt if necessary. Mix well, and serve at once.

Cook’s Tips:

1) Use any short pasta you have in your pantry
2) you can substitute pancetta with bacon
3) Use as much or as little cheese as you want. You can also use a different cheese such as Parmigiano Reggiano, (parmesan)
4) Always cook pasta according to package directions, unless you like it al dente. In that case, deduct 2 minutes from the cooking time. The best way to know if the pasta is cooked to your liking is simply taste it.

As you can see from my notes, pasta is very versatile and can be prepared according to your taste. You can use any meats, pasta shapes or veggies of your choice, and stamp your name on it!

Wine suggestions: Any white wine of your choice. Make sure it’s nicely chilled but not overly so you can taste the aromas of the wine.

Recipe developed by Gina over at Foodiewinelover
Photos: By Gina for Foodiewinelover

This flavorful dish is inspired by the mountainous region of Abruzzo, where you will find an abundance of porcini mushrooms. The recipe was developed, and written by Mario Batali. I have followed his method, and prepared it many times in my kitchen. He recommends using Farfalle, a pasta shape, commonly known as bow-ties, but it literally means, butterflies in Italian. You can also use other short pastas, such as Rotini, corkscrew-shaped as shown on my featured image. They both work well, and absorb the sauce nicely. It’s always a big hit in my kitchen, and perfect for feeding a small crowd. The name of the original recipe is: Farfalle Abruzzese With Veal, Porcini and Spinach. Mario brilliantly combines veal, double concentrated tomato paste, and porcini mushrooms to create this culinary masterpiece. Make sure you caramelize the tomato paste to get a rust color, and the result will be a stupendous rustic dish packed with layers of deep flavors. Make it for a dinner party, and your guests will think that the sauce has simmered for hours.

Farfalle Abruzzese with Veal, Porcini and Spinach

Excerpted from “Molto Batali” (ecco, 2011)

Serves 8 to 10 as a first course, 6 as a main
Level of difficulty – medium

1. Drain the porcini, reserving the soaking liquid, and coarsely chop the porcini. Strain the soaking liquid through a fine-mesh sieve, and set it aside.

2. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and cook until it is lightly toasted. Add the veal and the chopped porcini, and cook, stirring, over medium-high heat until the meat is well browned, about 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste, and add the tomato paste. Cook over high heat, stirring constantly, until the paste turns a rust color, 5 minutes. Then add the wine and 1 cup of the strained porcini soaking liquid, and cook for 5 minutes, until the wine has almost completely evaporated. Add the tomato sauce and reduce the heat to a very low simmer.

3. Bring 8 quarts of water to a boil in a large spaghetti pot, and add 2 tablespoons salt.

4. Drop the farfalle into the water and cook for 1 minute less than the package instructions indicate. Just before the pasta is done, carefully ladle ¼ cup of the cooking water into the veal mixture. Stir the baby spinach into the veal mixture.

5. Drain the pasta in a colander, and add it to the veal mixture. Toss over medium heat for about 30 seconds, until the pasta is nicely coated. Pour into a warmed serving bowl and serve immediately, with the grated pecorino on the side.

From “Molto Batali”

* You can find the double concentrated tomato paste at Italian specialty stores. If not, use 1/2 cup of regular tomato paste, but remember, the secret is to caramelize it on high flame to obtain that deep rust color. (My notes)

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In my house, we love our pasta in all shapes and forms. Most of the time, I make it as a hot dish, but with summer upon us, (at least for us, South Floridians), I decided to make a killer Pasta Salad. I normally use the elbow shape just for cold pasta salads, since it’s the perfect size to blend well with all the chopped ingredients. You will never see me use this shape with any kind of red sauce, except for macaroni & cheese. LOL! I know, it’s an American thing! This time, I served it as an accompaniment to some grilled New York strips. My family went crazy over it, and ate, and ate, and ate to their heart’s content.

This recipe will yield a very large bowl of pasta salad, but it can easily be divided in half.

Serves: 10 – 15 as a side dish
Level of difficulty: Easy to medium
Prepping time from start to finish: 1 hour
Chilling time: Minimum of 4 hours in the fridge

Ingredients:

1.5 lb. pasta, elbow shape, cooked al dente

1/2 lb. of bacon, crumbled

4 boiled eggs, chopped

1 green bell pepper, chopped

1/2 red bell pepper, chopped

2 ribs of celery, chopped

1 small red onion, diced

4 oz. sharp cheddar cheese, diced

1 cup mayo*

1 tbsp. Dijon mustard

2 tsp. Mrs. Dash, Italian Medley, no sodium

Salt & Pepper to taste

Lots of extra virgin olive oil to drizzle

Preparation:

1) Cook bacon, crumble it and set aside.

2) Chop up all your veggies.

3) Get all your ingredients, condiments, and spices ready.

4) Boil eggs, chop them up set aside.

5) Boil salted water for pasta, and cook according to package directions.

6) Drain pasta well, and pour it in a very large mixing bowl.

7) Add all the ingredients and mix well.

8) Drizzle with olive oil. Mix again, cover and chill in the fridge for a minimum of 4 hours. The colder the salad, the tastier it will be. This will allow the flavors to infuse nicely.

Right before serving, remove from the fridge, and drizzle more olive oil to moisten the salad.

* Notice that my salad is not saturated with mayonnaise, however if you don’t like mayonnaise at all, just substitute it with more olive oil, and add some red wine vinegar. It will be similar to a vinaigrette dressing. Taste, and adjust the spices as needed.

My son Matthew is a very picky eater, and he said, he’s never had such a good pasta salad before. The compliments were pouring in, as I sat and watch the bowl of pasta salad slowly disappearing before my eyes. This was a good sign that I had prepared a wonderful culinary creation. My job was done in the kitchen, and I was happy with the results.

I hope the next time you get invited to a picnic, you will offer to make this very refreshing pasta salad.

If you know me well enough, you should know by now, I usually cook for a minimum of 4, (but living with three men) It’s like cooking for 6. Wait, that’s not all, on Thursday nights, my brother and parents come over for dinner, and I generally make a pasta dish which is always a good idea when feeding a crowd. It’s easy, filling and delicious. Today, I will share with you, My Rigatoni with Sweet Italian Sausage and Red Bell Peppers. I was inspired many years ago, when I had a similar dish at the Italian chain restaurant Carrabba’s. I recreated it and the result was delightful.

Serves: 8 – 10 Degree of difficulty: Medium. This recipe can easily be divided in half.

Ingredients:

1.5 lb. Rigatoni or Ziti

1 container of chopped Tomato, Pomi or any brand 26.46 oz

2 containers of strained tomato, Pomi or any brand 26.46 oz

1/4 cup tomato paste

1 tsp. oregano

1/4 cup water

2 tbsp. olive oil for sauce, oil for frying the sausage, and more to drizzle

3 lbs. sweet Italian Sausage with fennel

1.5 red bell peppers cut in Julienne

Salt & pepper to taste

1 small onion, chopped

3 garlic cloves, chopped

16 oz shredded Mozzarella *

3/4 – 1 cup Parmigiano Reggiano, parmesan cheese, grated

Fresh parsley for garnish

Preparation:

1) In a large pot, heat up some olive oil and brown sausage in batches, until they obtain a nice golden brown color. Do not attempt to taste them as the inside will still be raw. Cut each link into three or four pieces, and set aside.

2) In the meantime, over med-high heat, in the same pot, heat up olive oil, saute’ the onions until translucent, then add garlic, saute’ an extra minute. Add tomato paste, cook until it caremelizes into a nice brownish red color, stir occasionally to avoid sticking to the bottom of the pot. If the heat is too high, adjust the setting. Next, add the water, the tomatoes, oregano, bell peppers, salt & pepper. Bring to a boil, reduce the flame to low, and simmer for a minimum of 30 minutes, up to 45 minutes. DO NOT OVER-COOK, as the peppers will fall apart.

3) On another burner, bring the pasta water to a boil, add salt and cook the pasta to the halfway point, as it will continue to cook in the oven.

4) Now, that you have prepped everything, it’s time to put it all together. In a very large, deep baking pan, drop the pasta, add the sausage, a few ladles of sauce with the peppers, the mozzarella and the parmesan cheese. Drizzle liberally with olive oil. Mix well until all the pasta is nicely coated with the sauce. There may be some sauce left, save it, you may need it later. Bake covered with foil, in a preheated 350 degree oven for 30 minutes or until pasta is cooked. If you choose to, you can broil it uncovered for the last 5 minutes to get a nice crust. Serve it in a nice pasta bowl, and garnish with parsley! Voila!

* I like to use fresh mozzarella, and break it with my hands, but you can use whatever works for you. I also like to freshly grate the parmesan cheese.

Next time, you’re having a small gathering, I hope you will try this delicious meal. If you are pressed for time, you can prepare the sauce the day before, but be sure to warm it up on low flame before mixing it with the pasta. You may have to add some water to liquefy the sauce as it will thicken in the refrigerator.

I love the way the flavors work harmoniously in this scrumptious pasta dish. I suggest you pair it with any of these Italian reds, and it doesn’t have to cost a fortune.